Gene Bilodeau spoke at the ribbon-cutting ceremoney for CNCC's new campus in Craig back in 2011. After nearly two decades with the college, Bilodeau will be moving on to South Dakota at the end of this year. CNCC will host a farewell gathering in his honor from 5 to 7 p.m. next Tuesday.

CNCC to host a going away event for VP Bilodeau

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RSVPing is not required, but requested to help with planning for food. Guests can RSVP on the Craig Chamber of Commerce events page.

Those looking to say farewell to a community pillar will have their chance early next week, as Colorado Northwestern Community College will hold a going away party for Gene Bilodeau.

Bilodeau, the vice president of the college and a city councilman in Craig, will be moving to South Dakota soon to become the executive director for the University Center in Rapid City, S.D. But before he goes, the campus he has been so heavily involved in since coming to Craig in 1994 will celebrate his two decades of service.

The farewell party for Bilodeau will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday on the main floor at CNCC. The gathering will be open for all to attend, with hors-d’oeuvres, drinks and good company.

“We’re going to treat this as if it were a Chamber mixer,” said CNCC Cashier Chris Mixon. “It’s not a meet-and-greet, but that’s basically the format. It will be standing, talking, appetizers, coffee, that kind of thing.”

The party will be a celebration and recognition of Bilodeau’s two decades of service to Craig and CNCC.

“For anybody who knew Gene or worked with Gene or interacted with him, he’s been in our community for 20 years and made a huge impact on many organizations and a lot of people,” said Chris Oxley, executive director of the Craig Chamber of Commerce and Moffat County Visitor Center. “We’ll be so sorry to lose him. So this is that opportunity to say goodbye and thank him for all he’s done.”

The chamber and other local businesses are helping with the food and organization of the party.

Bilodeau was instrumental in the construction of CNCC’s new campus in Craig, which was completed in 2011, and has been a member of the Craig city council since 2007.

“He’s always been there for anybody and everybody,” Mixon said. “It’s going to be a wonderful evening but it’s also going to be a sad evening, because we’re losing such a great man.”